Centrifugally loaded self-sealing integral one-piece cap/closure

Abstract

A capping and sealing assembly for a sample-holding centrifuge container which features a self-sealing lid that forms a fluid-tight seal in an opening of the canister with a predetermined amount of force, with the force being dependent upon the centrifugal load to which the capping assembly is subjected. The lid includes a cover portion and a peripheral member surrounding the cover portion and extending transverse thereto. The lid is disposed within an open end of the container, with the peripheral member having a frusto-conical surface that faces the container's wall. A gasket is disposed about the frusto-conical surface, forming a fluid-tight and air-tight seal with the cylindrical wall. A plurality of arcuate ribs extend across the cover portion, between opposed areas of the peripheral member. Each of the ribs are adapted to flex, under centrifugal force, expanding the opposed areas outwardly. In this manner, the sealing force between the peripheral member and the wall is increased.

I claim: 
     
       1. A capping assembly for a centrifuge container, said assembly comprising: a lid having a cover portion, a peripheral member, surrounding said cover portion and extending transverse thereto, and a plurality of ribs extending across said cover portion, with each of said plurality of ribs being coupled to opposed areas of said peripheral member and flexing, under centrifugal load, to expand said opposed areas outwardly away from a central region of said cover portion, thereby expanding said peripheral member.   
     
     
       2. The capping assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said cover portion has first and second opposed major sides, said first side having a convex shape and said second side facing an opening and having a concave shape, with said plurality of ribs consisting of a first set of ribs disposed adjacent to, and following the contour of, said first major side, and a second set of ribs disposed adjacent to, and following the contour of, said second side. 
     
     
       3. The capping assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said centrifuge container further includes a receptacle having an opening and a neck, surrounding said opening, with said neck including a plurality of threads and said lid including a threaded region engaging said plurality of threads so as to position said opening between said opposed areas and said threaded region. 
     
     
       4. The capping assembly as recited in claim 3 further including a sealing means, disposed proximate to said neck, for forming a fluid-tight and air-tight seal between said lid and said receptacle. 
     
     
       5. The capping assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said sealing means includes a stopper having first and second opposed major surfaces and a depending portion extending from said second major surface away from said first major surface, with said depending portion fitting within said opening and form an interference fit with said neck. 
     
     
       6. The capping assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said receptacle includes a first alignment mark and said lid includes a second alignment mark, with both said first and second alignment marks arranged so as to be axially aligned after a predetermined amount of rotational movement between threaded region and said neck so as subject said seal means to a preset load. 
     
     
       7. The capping assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said receptacle includes a tubular portion extending from said neck portion and terminating in a nadir, with said first alignment mark consisting of a recess formed into said tubular wall so as to extend along a length thereof. 
     
     
       8. The capping assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said peripheral member has upper and lower sections, said threaded region being disposed in said lower section, with a subset of said opposed areas being located in said upper section, said upper section having a frusto-conical surface disposed opposite to said opposed areas and further including a gasket disposed about said frusto-conical surface. 
     
     
       9. The capping assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said centrifuge container further includes a canister having a closed end, an open end and a cylindrical wall extending therebetween, said canister receiving said receptacle therein, with said peripheral member seating proximate to said open end forming an interference fit with said cylindrical wall, whereby expansion of said peripheral member tightens the interference fit between said peripheral member and said cylindrical wall. 
     
     
       10. A capping assembly for a centrifuge container of the type including a receptacle and a canister, with said canister having a closed end and an open end with a cylindrical wall extending therebetween and said receptacle having an opening and a neck, surrounding said opening, with said neck including a plurality of threads, said assembly comprising: a lid having a circular cover portion, an annular peripheral member, surrounding said cover portion and extending transverse thereto, and a plurality of arcuate ribs extending across said cover portion, between opposed areas of said peripheral member, said peripheral member having a circumference and including a threaded region engaging said plurality of threads so as to position said opening between said opposed areas and said threaded region, with said lid seating proximate to said open end forming an interference fit with said cylindrical wall and each of said plurality of ribs flexing, under centrifugal load, so as to expand said opposed areas outwardly away from said plurality of threads, thereby increasing said circumference.   
     
     
       11. The capping assembly as recited in claim 10 further including a stopper having first and second opposed major surfaces, with an annular depending portion extending from said second major surface away from said first major surface, forming a shoulder therebetween, with an annular gasket disposed about said shoulder, said depending portion fitting within said opening, with said gasket resting against said neck. 
     
     
       12. The capping assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said cover portion has first and second opposed major sides, each of which has an arcuate shape, with an annular contact area extending from said second side and positioned to bear against said stopper at a region disposed above said neck. 
     
     
       13. The capping assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said plurality of ribs follow the contour of said first major side. 
     
     
       14. The capping assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said peripheral member has upper and lower sections, with said threaded region disposed in said lower section and said opposed areas being located in said upper section, said upper section having a frusto-conical surface disposed opposite to said opposed areas and further including a gasket disposed about said frusto-conical surface. 
     
     
       15. The capping assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said receptacle includes a first alignment mark and said lid includes a second alignment mark, with both said first and second alignment marks arranged so as to be axially aligned after a predetermined amount of rotational movement between threaded region and said neck so as subject said annular gasket to a preset load. 
     
     
       16. A capping assembly for a centrifuge container of the type including a receptacle and a canister, said canister having a closed end and an open end with a cylindrical wall extending therebetween and said receptacle having an opening and a neck, surrounding said opening, with said neck including a plurality of threads, said assembly comprising: a lid having a cover portion, and an annular peripheral member including a sealing surface, said annular peripheral member fitting within said open end, with said sealing surface pressing said cylindrical wall with a predetermined amount of force, forming a fluid-tight and air-tight seal;   means, attached to said cover portion, for amplifying said force in response to centrifugal loading of said lid said amplifying means including a plurality of arcuate ribs.   
     
     
       17. The capping assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein said receptacle includes a tubular portion extending from said neck portion and terminating in a nadir, with said sealing surface having a frusto-conical shape and said amplifying means including a gasket disposed about said frusto-conical surface. 
     
     
       18. The capping assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said ribs extend across said cover portion, between opposed areas of said peripheral member, with each of said plurality of ribs flexing, under centrifugal load, to expand said opposed areas outwardly against said cylindrical wall. 
     
     
       19. The capping assembly as recited in claim 18 further including a stopper having first and second opposed major surfaces, with an annular depending portion extending from said second major surface away from said first major surface, forming a shoulder therebetween, with an annular gasket disposed about said shoulder, said depending portion fitting within said opening and said gasket resting against said neck. 
     
     
       20. The capping assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said cover portion has first and second opposed major sides, said second side having a concave shape and facing said opening, with an annular contact area extending from said second side and positioned to bear against said stopper at a region disposed above said neck, with a remaining portion of said second major side being spaced apart from said first major surface.